KANSAS CITY, Mo- The Belhaven men's basketball team will open the 2012 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship Tournament against Oklahoma Baptist on Wednesday at 10:30 PM at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. The Blazers, who received an automatic bid by playing the Championship game of the Southern States Athletic Conference, will make their third appearance in the tournament. It's also the first time in school history where both the Belhaven men's and women's teams have been on the national stage in the same year.

Belhaven owns an overall record of 16-16 and are unseeded in this year's tournament field.  Belhaven is making its fourth overall appearance in an NAIA National Championship and third at the Division I level. The Blazers went to the Division II national tournament in 2001, with previous visits to the Division I field in 1972 and 2010. Belhaven's overall record in national tournament games is 1-3.

Senior forward Daryl Arnold is one of the catalyst's of the Belhaven offense coming into the national tournament. Arnold is averaging 14.6 points per game on the offensive end of the floor and on defense he has been just as good with 78 steals and 23 blocked shots. Arnold is 17th in the NAIA in total steals and 18th in the nation in steals per game (2.5). Arnold was named to the SSAC All-Conference team based on his play this season.

Senior guard Woodie Howard isn't far behind Arnold when it comes to putting points on the board. Howard averages 13.7 points per game and is the team's best three point shooter, having knocked down 68 triples this year. Howard is also a very good rebounder collecting an average of 5.2 boards per game from his guard position. Howard represented Belhaven on the SSAC All-Division Team and was named to the SSAC All-Tournament Team.

Senior forward Brittion Smith teams up with Arnold to anchor the post. Smith is averaging 10.1 points per game and is the team's best field goal shooter on the strength of a 52.2 shooting percentage from the floor. Smith grabs an average of four rebounds per game and has 123 total on the season. Over half of his rebounds have been on offense so far this season, checking into the national tournament with 65. Smith joined Howard on the SSAC All-Division Team.

Two other Blazers who have emerged this season are junior guard Jordan Butts and sophomore guard Chris Cofield. Butts is averaging eight points per game and three rebounds each time he takes the floor. Cofield goes to Kansas City with a 6.8 points per game scoring average and stepped up big in the SSAC Tournament with a career high 23 points in Belhaven's 72-63 win over Loyola that clinched the automatic bid to the national tournament. Cofield has a team high 84 assists and was named to the SSAC All-Tournament Team.

As a team, the Blazers are averaging right at 68 points per game while surrendering 69.3 points per outing.  Belhaven is ninth in the nation in three point field goal defense, holding opponents to 29.3 percent shooting from behind the arc. The Blazers are 14th in the NAIA in total steals (301) and offensive rebounds per game (14.3).

Oklahoma Baptist is making its 25th appearance at the NAIA national tournament and garnered the number two seed in this year's field. The Bisons are ranked second in the Final NAIA Top 25 poll and own an overall record of 28-4. Oklahoma Baptist is a member of the Sooner Athletic Conference, and lost in the conference championship game against Oklahoma Christian University 73-66. Oklahoma Baptist received an automatic bid to this year's national tournament by being the runner up in the SAC tournament. The Bisons have won two National Titles and are looking for their third in 2012. Oklahoma Baptist is 54-21 overall in the national tournament games.

Oklahoma Baptist has three players averaging double figures, led by Emmanuel Wilson with 17.2 points per game. Deangelo McIntosh records 15.7 points per game and is the Bisons leading rebounder averaging 7.1 per contest. Heath McKay rounds out the double digit scorers for Oklahoma Baptist, checking in at 10.5 points per game. McIntosh ranks 21st in the NAIA in field goal shooting percentage as he heads to Kansas City hitting 54.4 percent of his field goals. Wilson is 24th in the NAIA in total scoring (549 points) and Jacobi Isham is 9th in Assist/Turnover ratio (2.3) along with a number 10 ranking in both total assists (198) and assists per game (5.9).

As a team, Oklahoma Baptist is scoring 78.7 points per game and is third in the nation is scoring margin winning by an average of 16.4 points. The Bisons defense is very stout as well ranking 6th in the country by limiting opponents to 62.3 points per game. They also rank in the top 10 in total assists (531), field goal percentage (49.0 percent) rebounding margin (7), and assists per game (16.6).

The winner will advance to the round of 16 and face either Columbia (Mo) or Montana State-Northern at 6:15 PM Friday. For all the latest up to date information on Belhaven's national tournament run click here.